1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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EASTERN EUROPE—In NE Hungary, Soviet
forces of Second Ukrainian Front overrun Miskolc,
key point in enemy’s defense line NE of Budapest
and important center of war industries.
ITALY—AAI: Br Eighth Army opens offensive
toward Bologna with 3 corps abreast. Pol 2 Corps,
which is to secure left flank of army by clearing foothills
to left of 5 Corps, jumps off at 2300. 5 Corps
attacks along Highway 9 toward the Santerno.
Cdn 1 Corps, in Adriatic coastal sector, continues
toward Ravenna and the Santerno with Cdn 1st Div
on left and Cdn 5th Armd Div on right, Cdn 1st
Div enveloping and taking Russi and Cdn 5th
Armd Div seizing Godo, on Russi–Ravenna road,
night 3–4.
SEAC—Adm Mountbatten agrees to permit Ch
22d and 38th Divs to move from Burma to China
to defend Kunming.
BURMA—In Br Fourteenth Army’s 33 Corps
area, E African 11th Div establishes bridgehead
across the Chindwin at Kalewa, where bridging is
undertaken under fire. Ind 20th Div secures bridgehead
across the river to N in Mawlaik area, crossing
a brig; uses Kalewa site for crossing rest of division.
CHINA—Japanese 11th Army halts its unauthorized
drive into Kweichow Province toward
Kweiyang as its supplies run out.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: In X Corps area, Tr
G of 112th Cav tries unsuccessfully to scale steep
slopes of ridge SE of Limon. Tr A makes contact
with 126th Inf W of Hill 1525 without incident.
In XXIV Corps area, at commanders conference,
Maj Gen Archibald V. Arnold orders 7th Div to
clear region S of Talisayan R, including Hills 918,
380, and 606, beginning on 5th.
4 December
WESTERN EUROPE—12th Army Group: In U.S.
Ninth Army area, XIII Corps has cleared its sector
W of the Roer except for Wurm and Muellendorf
and suspends offensive until 18th.
In U.S. First Army’s VII Corps area, 104th Div
improves bridgehead across Inde R. Upon completion
of bridges, supporting weapons cross. In V
Corps area, 8th Div withholds armored attack on
Bergstein while awaiting reinforcements, but infantrymen
continue to clear flanks of the Brandenberg–Bergstein
ridge. TF Boyer of 5th Armd Div
eliminates the Vossenack strongpoint.
In U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps area, 95th Div
regroups hastily to exploit capture of Saarlautern
bridge; 3d Bn, 379th Inf, crosses bridge and begins
prolonged struggle for suburb of Fraulautern, which
is within West Wall; 1st and 3d Bns repel tank-infantry
counterattack; 378th Inf takes Lisdorf, on the
[ 4 DECEMBER 1944 ]
Sarre just S of Saarlautern. 10th Inf, 5th Div, withstands
counterattack on S flank of corps; 3d Bn,
11th, takes up positions to right of 10th and begins
attack to clear region between Roselle and Sarre
Rivers. XII Carps begins final drive toward the
Sarre and West Wall. 80th Div, with 318th Inf in
assault, attacks after intense, effective arty preparation
and takes Farebersviller and hills to NE. CCA,
6th Armd Div, attacks toward Mont de Cadenbronn.
35th Div attacks across the Maderbach before
dawn, taking enemy by surprise: 134th Inf seizes
Puttelange; 320th, to right, is soon checked by enemy
fire. 104th Inf, 26th Div, eliminates enemy remnants
in Sarre–Union during methodical mop-up.
4th Armd Div, learning of German retreat, begins
pursuit across Eichel Creek, CCB crossing advance
force at Voellerdingen; CCA comes under accurate
fire at Domfessel.
6th Army Group: In U.S. Seventh Army’s VI
Corps area, toad and 36th Divs finish clearing
Sélestat. 36th Div takes control there, relieving 103d
Div forces.
EASTERN EUROPE—Fighting continues NE and
SW of Budapest. Soviet and Yugoslav troops clearing
region between the Danube and Sava Rivers
in Yugoslavia overrun Mitrovica.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s Br 13 Corps
area, 6th Armd Div, jumping off night 4–5, clears
most of M. Penzola.
In Br Eighth Army area, Pol 2 Corps takes Montecchio.
In 5 Corps area, 46th Div is attacking toward
Piedura ridge against strong resistance.
Cdn 1 Corps takes Ravenna and reaches the Lamone,
cutting Highway 16 where it crosses the river;
1st Div begins attack across the Lamone, night 4–5.
CHINA—In the course of reorganizing the government
to make it more progressive and efficient,
Chiang Kai-shek names T. V. Soong premier as well
as foreign minister. Gen Wedemeyer asks that
B–29’s, which are a strain on Hump tonnage, be
moved from China.
P.I.—U.S. Seventh Air Force bombers begin
harassing night attacks on Luzon airfields. On
Leyte, Gen Krueger, CG Sixth Army, orders attack
on 5 December to destroy enemy in Ormoc area,
with X Corps moving southward astride Highway
2 to support XXIV Corps. In X Corps area, 1st Bn
of 34th Inf, 24th Div, begins withdrawal from
Kilay Ridge toward Pinamopoan. 112th Cav continues
futile efforts to clear ridge SE of Limon.
XXIV Corps prepares for assault on Ormoc with
7th Div by land and 77th Div by sea. 184th Inf of
7th Div gets patrols as far N as Balogo 776th Amph
Tank Bn after dark moves to waters 1,000 yards W
of Balogo.